Open-face gas-mask



G. A. MI-CKELSON.

OPEN FACE GAS MASK.

APPLICATION map MAYIT. 191s. muzwzn MAY 13,1920. 1,344,349.

Patented June 22, 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT fol-" lea.

G onGE art'rirun mcKn soiv, or vancouvnn, 'BRrrIs r coronal-$14, CANADA.

OPEN-RACE GAS-MASK.

Application filed May 17, 1919, Serial No. 290,819. RenewedMay 19, 1920.Serial No. 382,640.

Tov allwhom it may, concern Be it known that I, Gnonen ARTHUR MrcKnLsoN,a citizen of the United States, and a resident ofthe city of Vancouver,in

the Province of British Columbia, Canada,

invention is to devise a mask. or. helmet which, although having an openface, may be employed with great. facility tov permit the wearer toenter and work in places where.

deadly gas is found, such as insewers, tanks,

flues or the like, orintense heat, such as blast or smelting furnaces,or which may be fitted to a specially prepared suit, for use. in. firefighting.

I attain. this. object by the construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in may be made of any suitable material, and

is formed to inclose the face and sides of the head extending backwardlyalmost as far as the ears, being provided with suitable straps 2 forfastening it in place. In front of the eyes, however, the mask isprovided with an opening 3 from which extends outwardly a.

tube 41, positioned so that the wearer may have an unobstructed viewtherethrough, and swingably mounted toward the outer end of the tube onsuitable arms 5 and 6 are upper and lower shutters 7 and 8 respectivelywhich may be swung downwardly in front of the tube to restrict the tubeopening so as to obtain a greater velocity of air or upwardly clear ofthe opening, as desired.

The rear edge of the mask is provided with an inner ring 9 of suitablematerial adapted to form an air tight joint between the mask and thehead when the mask is secured in place.

10 indicates an air inlet pipe adapted to be connected to the mask sothat air may be blown into the air space 11 between the mask wall andtheface by means of any suitable blower or air pump (not shown) to whichthe opposite end of the pipe is connected, the pipe 10 being preferablyattachedto side extensions 12 and 13. having. passages 14 and 15communicating with the interior of the mask.

The manner in which the mask is used may be briefly described asfollows: When it is desired to. enter a sewer or place where poisonousgas may exist the mask is placed on the face and secured by the straps2, be-

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented J 11116 22, 1920.

lg adjusted, of course, so that the opening of tube 4 is directly infront of the eyes, the a r, line. 10 being connected to the passages 14and 15, when, a continual stream of air being forced into the mask, thewearer may safely pass into and work in a body of poisonous gas withoutinjury, since. the air forced intothe mask passes out through the tube tand provides pure air for the wearer to breathe, thus allowing him to,conduct examinations into any abnormal conditions existing around him,to conduct any neces- 'sary repairs, or to rescue anyone who may havebeen overcome with the gas. while at the same time providing fresh airfor the rescued party from his own tube 4 by holdneck or body by anysuitable means so as to form an air tight connection with the body,

otherwise the construction and operationis the same as has already beendescribed with reference to the mask. The helmet is preferably used forhot work, such as inoperating blast or smelting furnaces or in fightingfire, in which case to keep the head and body cool a perforated pipe 16is mounted around the neck of the helmet through which water may becirculated from a supply pipe 17 so the discharge from which isdeflected downwardly over the helmet by means of a hood member 21mounted directly above it.

The air inlet pipe 10 may enter the helmet at any suitable point, asshown, and in the interior of the helmet may be provided a telephonereceiver 22 and transmitter by means of which the wearer may conversewith those beyond the danger zone. An electric lamp or flash light 2%may also be mounted in a suitable place in the tube l to give light in adark place, the glass beingv kept clean and free from blur by the airpassing out through the tube.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple andinexpensive meanswhereby examination, repair, and rescue work may becarried on in the midst of deadly gas or abnormal heat safely andwithout injury to the user.

. V hat I claim as my invention is:

1. A mask or helmet adapted to inolose the face or head respectively soas to pre serve an air tight space therearound having an inlet openingfor air under pressure and an air exit opening in front of the eyes, anda funnel secured to said mask or helmet in line with said exit openingwhereby the air issuing therefrom is concentrated and directed l orwarilly as a stream to penetrate smoke or gases against which it isprojected.

2. A mask or helmet adapted to inclose the face or head respectively soas to preserve an air tight spacetherearound having an inlet opening forair under pressure and an airexit opening in front of the eyes, a funnelsecured to said mask or helmet in line with said exit opening wherebytheair issuing therefrom is concentrated and directed forwardly as a streamto. penetrate smoke or gases against which it is projected, and meansfor varying the velocity of air flow through the said funnel.

3. A mask or helmet adapted to inclose the face or head respectively soas to preserve an air tight space thercaround having an inlet openingfor air under pressure and an air exit opening in front of the eyes, a

funnel secured to said mask or helmet in line with said exit openingwhereby the air issuing therefrom is concentrated and directed forwardlyas a stream to penetrate smoke or gases against which it is projected,

